Electric switch



Sept. 2, 1941. J. BIERENFE LD ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec.

1, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l A ZTORNEY INVEN e M 7% f e h P 1941- J. BIERENFELD 2,254,768

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 1, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 6'6 INVENTOR P 1941- J. BIERENEELD I 2,254,768

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 1, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 r; C I: r

p 1941. J. BIERENFELD 2,254,768

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 1, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY J W ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1941 ELECTRIC SWITCH Josef Bierenfeld, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Square B Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application December 1, 1931, Serial No. 111,409

(01. 2oo -1s) 13 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric switch and more particularly to an electric switch operated to ON and OFF positions in response to energization and deenergization of electromagnetic actuating means.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of electric switch having a simplified two piece insulating block supporting the stationary contacts and forming isolated chambers at least partially enclosing them.

Other objects and features of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification and appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the electric switch according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view on an enlarged scale with the cover broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailview of the cover holding and securing means.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line IVIV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line V-V of Figure 4 and with a portion of the front part of the contact enclosing assembly broken away.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 and with the front portion of the insulating contact enclosing assembly entirely removed.

Figure '7 is a sectional view on the line VII--VII of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the push button control unit.

Figure 10 is a sectional view through the push button control unit on the line X-X of Figure 4.

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line XI-XI of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is'a sectional view similar to Figure 11 but with the stop push button locked in depressed position.

Figure 13 is a sectional view on the line XIII-XIII of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the front section of the contact enclosing assembly as viewed from the bottom thereof.

The electric switch according to the present invention in the modification herein specifically illustrated .and described comprises an outer enclosing box I having a removable cover 2. The top wall of the box is provided with an opening which receives a pin 3 rigid with the top of the cover and cooperating with the holding and remaintain the cover in position. This means comprises a bracket mounted on the bottom portion of the cover and L-shaped in cross section, the arm portion of the L as at 4 being welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the -over and having integral therewith the foot portion 5 provided with a slot 6 and an opening 1. Upon the outside bottom wall of the box is rigidly secured a member somewhat scoop shaped in character and having a top portion 8 rigidly secured to the box and having integral therewith a back portion 9 and side portions H and i2. The side portion l2 extends through the slot 6 and at its front portion is provided with an opening l3 adapted for the reception of a lock hasp or other locking means. A stud N has a reduced portion loosely received within the opening 1 and is threaded into an opening I5 in the back portion 8 serving to draw the cover into its secured and held position against the forward edge of the side portion H. The operation of this holding and securing means is readily apparent, the top portion of the cover being maintained in place by the engagement of the pin 3 within its cooperating opening and the bottomportion thereof being securely held by the clamping of the portion 5 against the front edge of the side portion II by means of the stud I4. When the stud is detached from the portion 9 the bottom portion of the cover may be opened partially and the cover then moved a slight distance upwardly to disengage the pin 3, after which it may be removed.

Pivotally mounted on the side wall of the box as by means of hinges I5 is a short supporting member 16 rigidly secured to a back supporting plate IT. The supporting plate I! is provided with cars 18 at its top and bottom adapted to be rigidly secured to the back wall of the box by means of studs l9. Rigidly secured to the back mounting plate I! as bymeans of studs 2| is a back portion 22 of the contact enclosing assembly. This portion is of somewhat complex form and may be best understood with reference to Figures 4, 6, '7 and 8. It is of integral construction including a back portion 23, three lower forwardly extending portions 24, 25 and 28 and with three upper forwardly extending portions 21, 28 and 28. At the front face of the back portion 23 and between the forwardly extending portions 21, 28 and 28, 20 and to the right of the forwardly extending portion 29 are mounted terminals 3|, 32 and I! as by means of studs I4 shown more particularly in Figure 4. Upon the terminals M to 33 are mounted back stationary taining means to be hereinafter described to contacts 35, 36 and 31 as by means of studs 38.

stationary armature structure.

' it is supported. At the front of the forwardly 'projecting portions 21, 28 and 29 are mounted terminals 39, 4| and 42 and upon which are mounted front' stationary contacts 43, 44 and 45 as by means of studs 48. Again as more particularly shown in Figure 6 the contact making and breaking portions of the stationary contacts 43 r to 45 are spaced to the right of the terminals upon which they are supported so as to be aligned with the back stationary contacts 35 to 31 respectively. An insulating sheet 41 may be disposed between the back portion of the contact enclosing assembly 22 and the supporting plate l'l. I

The front portion of the contact enclosing assembly is shown in the sections of Figures 4 and 7 and in' the bottom perspective of Figure 14. This includes a front or body portion 48 extending the entire width of the enclosure, 9. bottom portion 49 and four backwardly projecting portions 5|, 52, 53, and 54. In Figure 14 it is seen that the top of the projecting portions 52, 53 and 54 are provided with offset portions as at 55 and in Figure 6 it is seen that the forwardly projectinitting member 66 also U-shaped in cross section and further U-shaped in side elevation having its opposite legs extending both above and below the stationary magnet structure. The link 85 and the member 68 are pivoted together by a pin 61 upon which is also mounted the bridging armature member 58. To the upper end of the member 68 is rigidly secured an insulating contact supporting block 69 having mounted thereon three U-shaped bracket members ll, 12 and 13 within which are disposed compression springs 14 and bridging contact elements 15 in position to bridge the spaced stationary contacts 3543.'

36-44, and 31-45. The U-shaped brackets ll, 12 and 13 are provided with flanges at the end of the legs which retain the bridging contact member 15 in position. The brackets H, 12 and 13 are provided with flanges at the end of the legs which retain the bridging contact member 15 in position. The brackets H to I3 extend through the openings 51 provided therefor at the bottom of the contact enclosing assembly.

The operation of the switch so far described will be readily apparent. As the operating coil 63 is energized and deenergized the armature 68 will move upwardly and downwardly by the inp fluence of the magnetic force and by the action ing portions 21, 28 and 29 have similar offset portions as at 58. When the front and back portions of the contact enclosing assembly are in place the projections 5| and 21 cooperate to form the extreme left side wall for the assembly, the

projections 52 and 28 cooperate to form an intermediate wall, as do also the projections 53 and 29. The projection 54 forms the extreme right hand side wall of the assembly. The interior of the assembly is thus seen to form three isolated compartments or chambers within which the cooperating sets of contacts are disposed. The offset portions on the front and back projections as at 55 and 56 cooperate to form the top walls of the chambers. The bottom projection 49 on the front section and the projections 24, 25 and 26 on the back section together with the bottom surfaces of the projections 52, 53 and 54 form the bottom wall of the assembly having openings therein only between the projections 24 to 26- and the projection 49 affording entrance openings through which means for manipulating the movable contact extend. These openings are indicated at 51 in Figure 4.

Rigidly mounted on the back plate I! beneath the back section 22 of the contact making assembly is a supporting bracket 58 of inverted L-shape in side elevation and U-shaped in cross section. At its extreme frontal portion the bracket 58 is provided with projections 59 having upper slightly inclined surfaces receiving a pin 6| extending through and rigid with a stationary E-shaped magnet structure 62 about whose central leg is disposed the operating coil 63. Due to the inclined upper surfaces on the projections 59 as the magnet core 62 is pushed backwardly its top surface will be clamped against the bottom surface of the top portion of the bracket 58 to rigidly and securely mount the A spring catch 64 is provided to prevent accidental frontwise removal or loosening of the stationary armature structure.

To the bottom portion of the. bracket 58 is pivoted a link 85 also U-shaped in cross section and to the link 65 is provided a motion transof gravity and will move the bridging contacts 15 through the instrumentality of the motion transmitting member 66 substantially rectilinearly into and out of engagement with the spaced stationary contacts to perform the switching operation. When the cover 2 and the push button unit to be hereinafter described are removed, the front section of the contact enclosing assembly may be removed by the detachment of its supporting screws 16. With this front section removed the movable contact assembly including the member 86 may be swung forwardly and downwardly, thus placing the bridging contacts 15 in readily accessible position. Upon this swinging movement the stationary magnet core 82 is rendered accessible and by the disabling of the spring latch 64 may be pulled forwardly and entirely removed for replacement or repair. With removal of the front section of the contact enclosing assembly the stationary contacts 35 to 31 and 43 to 45 become readily accessible for removal or repair.

As shown in Figure 2 there are also provided on the supporting plate I! two overload relays indicated generally at H and 18. These relays in themselves form no part of the present invention and will be but briefly described. They include in general spring pressed contact carrying members 18 having latching portions 8| thereon cooperating with ratchet wheels 82 held against rotation by a fusible alloy adapted to be melted by on overload current in conventional manner to permit the members I8 to move forwardly under the spring bias to interrupt'the circuit through the energizing coil and effect opening of the switch in response to current overload. Upon the inside surface of the cover 2 is a pivotally mounted element 83 having legs 84 adapted to engage the members 19 for actuating them to relatched position. A resetting push button 85 extends through an opening in the cover so as to manipulate the element 83 from the exterior of the box and this push button is mounted in place by its engagement with the cover opening and by a projecting portion 86 engageable within a cooperating slot in the pivoted element 83.

The push button control unit is more particularly shown in Figures 2, 4 and 9 to 13 inclusive. It includes a back or base insulating portion II and a front or cover portion attached together by studs 00. The cover has a forwardly projecting oval shaped portion 04 within which are disposed the push buttons and 90 and a locking element 91. At the back upper portion of the base section are gripping extensions 00 adapted to engage the top surface of the contact enclosing assembly and at the lower back face of the base ii are mounted metallic bracket portions 89 having integral fingers IOI engageabie with the bottom surface of the contact enclosing assembly. Upon the brackets 90 are mounted resilient iingers I02 engageable with the opposite sides of the contact enclosing assembly. The mounting of this push button control unit is shown in Figures 2 and 4. The back or base of the unit is placed directly against the front face of the contact enclosing assembly in which position the gripping projections 01 and fingers IOI engage with the top and bottom surfaces of the assembly while the fingers I02 frictionally engage the opposite sides of the'assembly. The unit is thus mounted in place and is frictionally restrained from forward movement with respect to the assembly. When the cover I is in place the projecting oval portion 94 extends through an opening in the cover closely receiving the same and the cover 2 of the box proper engages with the front surface of the cover 92 thus securely maintaining the push button control unit in position.

The details of construction of the unit will now be described. Upon the base 0| are mounted cooperating pairs of spaced stationary contact elements I03 and I04. The push buttons 95 and 80 are of hollow construction as shown and have pins I05 rigid therewith. Light compression springs I06 are disposed about the pins I05 and against the springs I 06 are disposed bridging contact plates I01. Washers I08 disposed against abutments adjacent the ends of the pins I05 limit the position of the bridging contacts I01 away from the push buttons and the washers are maintained in place by tapered compression springs I09 having their smaller ends securely threaded upon the ends of the pins I05. The bridging contacts I01 are prevented from turning with respect to the push buttons by being disposed within slots III therein. The push buttons 05 and 96 are provided with projections H2 slidably engaged with cooperating openings in the base 9| to prevent rotation of the push buttons and engageabie by the cover 82 to prevent removal thereof while the cover is in place. The locking slider 91 has a pin H3 rigid therewith and extending through an elongated slot Ill in the cover 92. A washer H5 having a diameter greater than the width of slot I I4 maintains the locking slider 81 securely in position on the cover and limits its movement to one parallel to the face of the cover. The push button 95 is a start push button and push button 90 is a stop push button. As viewed in Figure 11 it is seen that the stationary contacts I03-I0l and the bridging elements I01 for the two push buttons are reversely directed so that push button 95 is normally open and 96 normally closed. Depression of push button 95 will close the circuit through contacts I03 and if they are connected in series with the energizing coil 63 will effect energization thereof and actuation of the switch to closed circuit position. The closing of the switch will close a holding circuit about the start push button in a conventional manner and opening of the button thereafter will not effect opening of the switch. However, depression of push button 00 after the switch has been closed will open the circuit of energizing coil 01 at another point and will effect deenergization thereof to move the switch to open position. The slider 01 is used to lock either of the push buttons in depressed position and as viewed in Figure 12 has been slidably moved to the right thus placing its body portion directly above a part of the push button 00 and preventing frontward movement thereof under the bias of its compressed spring I00. In the operation of the push buttons the relatively heavy compression spring I00 biases them to their forward position and depression of the push buttons is accompanied by a compression of this spring. When the bridging contacts I01 are stopped either by engagement with the stationary contacts as in push button 05 or by engagement with the base 0| as in push button 00, further depression of the push buttons results in the compression of springs I00 and in the case of push button 05 a resilient contact pressure through the force exerted by its spring I. While the push button has been described as directly mounted upon a switch and operating to effect energization and deenergization of its operating coil it is, of course, obvious that the push button unit is of general application and may be used alone or in any functional relation.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch comprising an insulating member including a main body portion, three vertical wall portions projecting forwardly thereof and three bottom wall portions extending forwardly thereof, terminals and stationary contacts mounted on said main body portion and said vertical wall portions, said forward and backward contacts being arranged in spaced aligned pairs, a second insulating member including a main body portion, rearwardly projecting vertical wall portions and a rearwardly projecting partial bottom wall portion, means for mounting said second member upon said first mentioned member to form three isolated chambers about said pairs of contacts, the bottom wall portions on said members failing to meet so as to provide entrance openings into the chambers, movable contacts within the chambers, and means extending through said bottom openings for eflecting manipulation of said bridging contacts into and out of engagement with the spaced pairs of contacts.

2. In an electric switch, an insulating member having a main. body portion and spaced portions projecting forwardly thereof, terminal and stationary contact members mounted respectively upon said main body portions between said forward projecting portions and upon the forward surfaces of said forward projecting portions, the contact surfaces being laterally offset from their terminals in opposite directions so that said contact surfaces will be aligned, a second insulating member including a main body portion and spaced, backwardly projecting wall portions, said backwardly projecting portions interfitting with said forwardly projecting portions to form chambers for said contact surfaces, additional forwardly projecting portions on said first mentioned member and additional backwardly projecting portions on said second member, said last mentioned'portions cooperating to form at least partial bottom walls for the chambers, the main body portions of said members forming the front and back walls of the chambers, the backwardly projecting portions on said second member forming the side walls of the chamber and cooperating with the forwardly projecting portions on the first member to form at least partial top walls for the chambers.

3. An electric switch comprising two cooperating insulating members having main. body portions forming respectively front and back walls and having portions projecting forwardly from the back main body portion and rearwardly from the front main body portion, said projecting portions interfitting and being complimentary to form, with said front and back walls formed by the main body portions, a contact chamber having at least one opening therein, the at least partial top and bottom walls of said chamber being both formed by cooperating projections on both of said members, means mounting the back insulating member upon a'support, at least one terminal and stationary contact mounted on said back insulating member, means mounting said front insulating member in cooperating relation with said back insulating member, said stationary contact being within the contact chamber and said terminal being located in an accessible position at the exterior thereof when said members are in assembled relation, a movabl contact within said chamber, and means extending through said at least one opening for manipulating said movable contact.

4. An enclosed switch comprising two cooper- ,ary contact being within the contact chamber and said terminal being located in an accessible position at the exterior thereof when said members are in assembled relation, said stationary contact being inaccessible when said members are assembled and being readily accessible for removal or replacement when the front insulating member is removed, a movable contact withinsaid chamber, and means extending through said at least one opening for manipulating said movable contact.

insulating member upon a support, terminals and stationary contacts mounted on said back insulating member in spaced relation, means for supporting the front insulating member in cooperating relation upon said back insulating memher, said spaced stationary contacts being within the contact chamber, and said terminals being at the exterior, thereof when the insulating members are in assembled relation, a movable contact within said chamber and adapted to be reciprocated into and out of engagement with said stationary contacts, and means projecting through said at least one opening into said chamber for eifecting reciprocation of said movable contact.

5. An electric switch comprising two cooperating insulating members having main body portions forming respectively front and back walls and having portions projecting forwardly from the back main body portion and rearwardly from the front main body portion, said projecting portions interfitting and being complimentary to form, with said front and back walls formed by the main body portions, a contact chamber having at least one opening therein, the at least partial top and bottom walls of said chamber 6. An electric switch comprising two cooperating insulating members having main body'portions forming respectively front and back walls and having portions projecting rearwardly from the back main body portion and forwardly from the front main body portion, said projecting portions interfitting and being complimentary to form, with said front and back walls formed by the main body portions, a contact chamber having at least one opening therein, the at least partial top and bottom walls of said chamber being both formed by cooperating projections on both of said members, means mounting the back insulating member upon a support, terminal and stationary contact members mounted on said back insulating member, the terminals being laterally ofiset and the stationary contacts being in an aligned forwardly spaced relation, both of said stationary contacts being readily accessible for removal or replacement when the front insulating section is removed, and said contacts being rendered relatively inaccessible when the front insulating member is properly assembled with the rear insulating member, the terminals being readily accessible when the members are assembled, a movable contact within the chamber, and means extending through said at least one opening for manipulating said movable contact.

7. An electric switch comprising an insulating member including a main body portion, a forwardly projecting wall, a terminal and stationary contact mounted on a front face of the main body portion of said member, a terminal and stationary contact mounted on a front face of said forwardly projecting wall, said terminals and mountings being laterally ofiset and said contacts extending in opposite directions from their mountings into aligned spaced relation, a second insulating member comprising a main body portion and rearwardly projection portions, means for supporting said second member upon said first member so that they cooperate to form a substantial enclosure for said stationary contacts, said second insulating member when in cooperating relation with said first insulating member rendering the stationary contacts and their mountings relatively inaccessible, said contacts and mountings being readily accessible for removal or replacement of the contacts when the second insulating member is removed, said members having clearance portions providing at least one opening into said chamber, a movable contact within the chamber, and means extending through an opening into the chamber for supporting and manipulating the movable contact.

8. An electric switch comprising an insulating member having a main body portion and havinga portion extending forwardly thereof, terminal and stationary contact members mounted respectively upon a front face of said main body portion and upon a front face of a forwardly projecting portion, said terminals and mountings being disposed in laterally spaced relation, the contact members extending laterally in opposite directions and terminating in contact surfaces disposed in aligned spaced relation, a second insulating member including a main body portion and portions projecting rearwardly thereof, said portions interfitting and being complementary to form a substantial "enclosure for said contacts while maintaining said terminal portions at the exterior of the members, a movable contact within said enclosure, and means for manipulating said movable contact.

9. An electric switch comprising an insulating member having a main body portion and having a portion extending forwardly thereof, terminal and stationary contact members mounted respectively upon a front face of said main body portion and upon a front face of a forwardly projecting portion, said terminals and mountings being disposed in laterally spaced relation, the contact members extending laterally in opposite directions and terminating in contact surfaces disposed in aligned spaced relation, a second insulating member including a main body portion and portions projecting rearwardly thereof, said portions interfitting and being complementary to form a substantial enclosure for said contacts while maintaining said terminal portions at the exterior of the members, said second insulating member when in cooperating relation with said first insulating member rendering the stationary contacts and their mountings relatively inaccessible, said stationary contacts and their mountings being readily accessible for removal or replacement when the second insulating member is removed, a movable contact within said enclosure and means for manipulating said movable contact.

10. In an enclosed switch, suporting means, an insulating member rigidly mounted on said supporting means including a main body portion and portions projecting forwardly thereof, sets of terminals and stationary contacts mounted respectively upon said main body portion and on the forwardly projecting portions, the terminals and mounting of each set being thus spaced apart forwardly and being laterally onset, the stationary contacts of each set extending laterally in opposite directions from their mountings and terminating in contact surfaces in alignment but spaced forwardly, a second insulating member including a main body portion and rearwardly projecting portions and removably mounted on said first insulating member with said portions cooperating to form a plurality of individual substantial enclosures for said setsof contacts, said contacts being relatively inaccessible while said members are assembled, and said contact-s and their mountings being readily accessible for removal or replacement of the contacts when the second insulating member is removed, movable projecting contacts within said enclosures, clearance portions on said members providing at least one opening into each of said enclosures, and means projecting through openings into said enclosures for manipulating the movable contacts into engaged and disengaged relation with said partial wall portions projecting forwardly thereof, terminals and stationary contacts mounted p n said main body portion between said partial wall portions, terminals and stationary contacts 5 mounted on said wall portions and spaced forwardly of the terminals and contacts mounted on the main body portion, said terminals and mountings being laterally spaced and said front and back stationary contacts extending laterally in opposite directions from their mountings and terminating in contact faces in alignment but forwardly spaced, the forward and backward contact being arranged in cooperating pairs, a

second insulating member comprising a main body portion and at least partial wall portions extending rearwardly thereof. said portions interiitting and being complementary to form an individual substantial enclosure for each cooperating pair of contacts while maintaining the terminals at the exterior of the .'.-enclosures, movable contacts within the enclosures, and means extending into the enclosures for effecting operation of the movable contacts into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts.

12. In an electric switch, a supporting means, an insulating member rigidily mounted on said supporting means, terminals and stationary contacts mounted on said insulating member, said terminals and mountings being laterally and forwardly spaced with the forward and back contacts arranged in cooperating pairs, said forward and back contacts extending laterally in opposite directions from their mountings and terminating in contact faces in alignment but forwardly spaced, at second insulating member mounted upon said first insulating member and cooperating therewith to form individual substantial enclosures for said pairs of contacts, said second insulating member rendering said stationary contacts and their mountings substantially inaccessible when the insulating members are assembled, said stationary contacts and mountings being readily accessible for removal and replacement of the contacts when said second insulat- 45 ing member is removed, said members being shaped to provide openings at least in the bottom of 'said enclosures, movable contacts in said enclosures, means projecting through openings into said enclosures for manipulating the movable' contacts, and means at the exterior of said insulating members for effecting rectilinear movement of said manipulating means to effect rectilinear movement of the movable contacts into and out of engagement with the pairs of said stationary contacts.

13. An electric switch comprising an insulating member, a main body portion and at least three forwardly projecting wall portions, stationary contacts and terminals mounted upon front faces of the main body portion, stationary contacts and terminals mounted upon front faces on said wall portions, said forward and back contacts being arranged in spaced cooperating pairs, the terminals and mountings in each pair being spaced laterally as well as forwardly, the forward and back stationary contacts extending laterally in opposite directions from their mountings into aligned forwardly spaced relation, a second insulating member including a main body portion and at least three cooperating wall portions, stationary contacts and terminals mounted upon the main body portion, means supporting the second member on said first mentioned member,

said wall and main body portions cooperating when the members are assembled to form three isolated chambers for said pairs of stationary contacts, said terminals being readily accessible at the exterior of said chambers at all times, said stationary contacts and their mountings being accessible for removal or replacement or the contacts only when said second insulating member is removed, clearance portions on said mem- 

